Origin
Carbondale, CO
Afternoon in Carbondale on Thursday
Local time
3:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Carbondale, CO to Fort Collins, CO
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 36m
Distance
231.2 mi
372 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
10 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 23m
★
6 AM
4h 36m
8 AM
5h 3m
10 AM
4h 46m
12 PM
4h 43m
3 PM
4h 47m
5 PM
5h 2m
8 PM
4h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Carbondale, CO
Jacob Moore
Fort Collins, CO
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Carbondale, CO to Fort Collins, CO covers 231.2 miles and takes about 4h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 70, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, North Valley Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 153.2 miles on I 70. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.83 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
115.6 miles from Carbondale, CO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 36m. Total distance: 231.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 36m highway drive covering 231.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 70 and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 153.2 miles on I 70.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 70 is the longest continuous segment at about 153.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 70 and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.6 miles in near 27th Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 231.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.6 miles (27th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 11.7 miles (Midland Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 167.5 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
11.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
27th Street
Enter roundabout onto 27th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
11.7 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
Midland Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Midland Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
167.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 23m in
|
I 76 / Heartland Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76 / Heartland Expressway toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Exit 269B
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
8
172.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 5
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
7
172.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Carbondale, CO to Fort Collins, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Colorado Springs along the way.
Colorado Springs
172.6 mi in
|
~3h 29m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 70 | 153.2 mi | 2h 57m |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway | 41.7 mi | 41m |
| North Valley Highway | 10.5 mi | 12m |
| CO 82 | 9.9 mi | 16m |
| Heartland Expressway | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| East Mulberry Street | 4 mi | 7m |
| Midland Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| CO 133 | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 70
— 153.2 mi, about 2h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Carbondale, CO and Fort Collins, CO.
1
Start on Merrill Avenue
32 ft
·
1 sec
·
Merrill Avenue
2
Continue on North 4th Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
North 4th Street
3
Turn right onto Main Street
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Main Street
4
Enter roundabout
17 ft
·
0 sec
5
Continue
463 ft
·
9 sec
6
Continue on CO 133
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
CO 133
7
Continue on CO 133
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
CO 133
8
Turn left onto CO 82
9.9 mi
·
16 min
·
CO 82
Use the straight lane.
9
Turn left onto 27th Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
27th Street
Use the left lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto 27th Street
86 ft
·
1 sec
·
27th Street
11
Continue on 27th Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
27th Street
12
Enter roundabout onto Midland Avenue
13 ft
·
0 sec
·
Midland Avenue
13
Continue on Midland Avenue
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Midland Avenue
14
Turn right onto West 8th Street
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
West 8th Street
15
Turn left onto CO 82
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Grand Avenue
16
Continue on CO 82
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
Laurel Street
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
18
Merge onto I 70
153 mi
·
2 hr 57 min
·
I 70
Use the straight lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
5.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Heartland Expressway
Exit 269B
Toward I 76 East: Fort Morgan
Use the left lane.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 5
Toward I 25: Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
1.4 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 25 North: Fort Collins
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 25
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Valley Highway
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 25
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
North Valley Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Continue on I 25
42 mi
·
41 min
·
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 269B
Toward CO 14 West: Fort Collins
27
Merge onto CO 14
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
East Mulberry Street
Use the straight lane.
28
Continue on West Mulberry Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
West Mulberry Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
29
Turn right onto South Meldrum Street
499 ft
·
29 sec
·
South Meldrum Street
30
Turn left onto West Magnolia Street
476 ft
·
18 sec
·
West Magnolia Street
31
Continue on South Sherwood Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
South Sherwood Street
32
Arrive at destination
South Sherwood Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 115.6 miles from Carbondale, CO, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 51 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115.6 miles or 2h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fort Collins, CO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Carbondale, CO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Carbondale, CO
This is one driving day of about 231.2 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Carbondale, CO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 70 for about 153.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 115.6 mi from Carbondale, CO · 2h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
116 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 51 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 115.6 miles from Carbondale, CO, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 70 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 153.2 miles.
Arriving in Fort Collins, CO
The final approach into Fort Collins, CO usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Fort Collins, CO.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.83 one way
$69.67 round trip
$3.83/gal
25.4 MPG avg
81 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.05 | $36.88 | $73.77 |
| premium | $4.39 | $40.00 | $79.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $51.05 | $102.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
10 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
ChargePoint Charging Station
Fort Collins, Colorado
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Fort Collins, Colorado
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Fort Collins, Colorado
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Fort Collins, Colorado
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Fort Collins, Colorado
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
Fort Collins, Colorado
EVgo
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Fort Collins, Colorado
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
InCharge Energy Charging Station
Fort Collins, Colorado
InCharge
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 7
EVgo: 1
InCharge: 1
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 69.4 | 0 | $24.28 | $11.10 |
| Efficient EV | 57.8 | 0 | $20.23 | $9.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 92.5 | 1 | $32.37 | $14.80 |
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Fort Collins, CO
Afternoon in Fort Collins on Thursday
Local time
3:27 PM
MDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
10 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 36m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Carbondale, CO to Fort Collins, CO covers 231.2 miles and takes about 4h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 70, Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, North Valley Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 115.6 miles from Carbondale, CO. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.83 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 231.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.6 miles (27th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 11.7 miles (Midland Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 167.5 miles (I 76 / Heartland Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Carbondale, CO to Fort Collins, CO, road signs begin pointing toward Colorado Springs along the way.
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